Twiddle muffs are marvellous

Caring craft group helps those with dementia

Members of a Paisley crafts group have again thought of others by putting their skills to good use.

Knit2Gether, which meets at the YMCA in the High Street, is a social gathering of women who love knitting and crochet.

And they have just produced a large number of ‘twiddle muffs’ to help make life better for those with dementia.

Group member Irene Lynch said: “They’re muffs for dementia patients that they put on and it distracts them from playing with their skin.

“And there are all sorts of ribbons and buttons and bells and bows, so they can actually handle things and feel different textures.”

And the muffs have been fartravelled.

“I happened to mention to my lovely ladies that I was away in Majorca, where I’m involved in a charity group as well,” Mrs Lynch said.

“And they had asked us if we could knit twiddle muffs, and when I came back I was presented with 12 beautiful twiddle muffs to take back to Majorca.

“They’re going to a care home there.”

Back home, the twiddle muffs have gone to Elderslie Care Home and the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

“The Women’s Royal Voluntary Service take them in and decide where they are going,” explained Mrs Lynch. “We made dozens of them.” Knit2Gether is always keen to help others with their handiwork.

“We hear that someone is needing such-and-such, and the next thing we know we are all into it,” Mrs Lynch said.

“When the terrible terrorist incident happened in Manchester, we knitted all these Hearts for Manchester.”

The group also frequently knits hats and blankets for premature babies at the RAH.

“Sometimes we’ve got so many that they go to different hospitals,” Mrs Lynch said.

“Five different hospitals get shares of them.”

Scarves have also been knitted for Blythswood Care and are sent out in shoeboxes all over the world.

“Seemingly, scarves are something they get very few of,” said group member Sandra Blane.

“I have a friend who’s involved with Blythwood and I do the scarves, and the ladies saw me doing it, so the ladies joined in.”